25/05/2005 — The vote
is on - who is responsible for the most Amazon
destruction? Last week the Brazilian government
showed that deforestation was at record levels,
so we have nominated Brazilian President Lula
and 5 others for the notorious Golden Chainsaw
title. "It's a very difficult choice.
All six are strong candidates," said
Paulo Adario, Amazon campaign co-ordinator.
The award has two prizes: public - to be decided
by direct vote on the internet - and environmental
activists and journalists will make a "critics'
choice". The prizes will be given to
the Brazilian personality whose action or
inaction were decisive in the incredible levels
of deforestation in the Amazon. The not-so-lucky
winner, announced on June 6th, will receive
a statue made of illegally logged wood.
The nominees are:
Blairo Maggi
Governor of the State of Mato Grosso, absolute
champion of deforestation. (The state was
responsible for 48 percent of the total Amazon
destruction during 2003-04). Considered the
"King of Soya", he longs for the
presidency of Brazil. Author of the celebrated
phrase, "This business of forests does
not have a future". And, if it depends
on him, it certainly won't.
Roberto Rodrigues
Minister of Agriculture in Brasilia and soy
farmer in Maranhão, he is absolutely
convinced that agribusiness is the salvation
of farming. Refuses to recognise the relation
between deforestation and the advance of agribusiness.
José Dirceu
First minister in line of command in the Lula
Government and Chief of the Civil House. Co-ordinator
of the "Plan of Action for the Prevention
and Control of Deforestation in the Legal
Amazônia" and greatly responsible
for the lack of its implementation.
Luís Inácio Lula da Silva
President of the Republic of Brazil and ultimately
responsible for its actions and inactions.
Although he promotes a sustainable model for
the Amazon, the protection of the environment
in his government until now is considered
a mere obstacle to economic development.
Antônio Palocci
Secretary of the Treasury and holder of the
key to the safe. He compliments agribusiness
and he applauds increases in exports while
the government institutions and agencies who
protect the environment receive less and less
federal resources.
Simão Jatene
Governor of the State of Pará which
has been historically the vice-leader in deforestation,
but the winner of the prizes in the categories:
violence and murders in the field, slave labour,
illegal occupation of land and activities
of inherent mismanagement in the process of
deforestation.
